Automatic socket wrench



April 16, 1935.

A. PEARSON AUTOMATIC SOCKET WRENCH Filed June 4, 1954 amen Vim 9H a, R. N

Patented Apr. 16, 1935 UNITED sr'rss ersrtr This invention relates to an automatic wrench of the socket type and has for its object to pro- Vid, ll1 a manner as hereinafter set forth, a wrench of the class referred to which automatically adapts itself for use in connection with nuts and bolt heads of different sizes without the necessity of dismantling any of its parts.

A further object of the invention is toprovide,

in .a manner as hereinafter set forth, a wrench of the class referred to including a set of nested normally latched spring controlled socket members for selective use in connection with nuts and bolt heads of different sizes and capable when released to be automatically adjusted rela tive to each other to encompass the nut or bolt head which is to be acted upon by the wrench.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a wrench of the class referred to including a set of spring controlled nested socket members, and with the inner members of the set having means at their inner ends coacting with the inner ends of the outer members of the set to prevent said inner members from moving outwardly from nested po sition with respect to the said outer members.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a socket wrench of the class referred to which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact, readily assembled, thoroughly effi cient in its use, conveniently arranged in nut or bolt head encompassing, and inexpensive to manufacture.

To the above ends essentially, and toothers which may hereinafter appear the invention consists of such parts, and such combination of parts which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawing:--

Figure 1 is a side View of the wrench with the head thereof in vertical section, Figure 2 is an inverted plan of the wrench,

Figure 3 is a top plan View of one of the socket members.

The head 4 of the Wrenchmay be of any suitable contour, but is shown as being hexagonal. Within the head 4 is arranged a set of selectively shiftable nested socket members and with the contour thereof conforming to that of the head. As shown the socket members are of hex agonal contour and of less length than that of the head. The socket members and head are selectively employed for screwing nuts and bolts of different sizes. The set of socket members may be of any number desired depending upon the distance between. the inner faces of a pair of opposed sides of the head. The socket members of the set are designated 5, 5, l and 3 and which pro ressively increase in length from member 5 to member 8. The socket members are open at each The head is open at one end and closed at its other end at Q. The angles or sides of head 4 are designated it, it, it, inner faces of the sides t2 and E5 of head t inproximity to the open end of the latter arerecessed as at H3, ll respectively to form shouiders it, it respectively. The angles or sides of the member 5 are designated 2t, 25, 22, 23, 2t and those of member 5 at '26, ill, Eli, 3t and those of member '5 at 33, 3t, 35, 3G, and 3?; and those of member 8 at 38, 39, it, H, 612' and 13. I

The socket member 5 has secured to the outer face of its sides 22, 25 lengthwise thereof springs it, respectively having laterally directed curved resilient free end terminal portions 46, t! respectively to abut shoulder i8, i9 respectively to prevent the dropping outwardly of the member 5 from head The memberst, l and 8 at'their inner ends are formed with outwardly extending endless flanges 15, 49 and 5% respectively for seating 513, M and B5. The, t

upon the inner ends of the members 5, 6 and l respectively to prevent members 6, 'i and 8 respectively from dropping out of head 4 with respect to each other or with respect to member 5. The flanges it, 49 and 59 are normally held in their seated position and the end terminal portions 4E, 47 of springs 44, d5 respectively against the shoulders I 8, l9 respectively by a coiled spring 5! which is interposed between'the inner end of socket member 3 and the inner face of the closed end 9 of head l.

The side IQ of head 4 and the sides 29, 26, 32

i and 38 of members 5, 6, l, and 8 respectivelyare formed with openings 52 for alignment with each other. The opening 52 in side i!) is arranged substantially at the transverse median of head 4. The openings 52 in the sides 28, 26, 32 and 38 are arranged in proximity to the inner ends of members 5, 8, I, and 8 respectively. The openings 52 are provided for the passage of a spring controlled latch consisting of a bar 53 formed with a head 55 at its outer end and a controlling are latched together and cannot shift relative to each other. When bar 53 is moved clear of opening 52 of member 8 the latter can be shifted inwardly in head 4 towards the closed end of the latter and independently of any of the other members and the head 4. If bar I3 is clear of member 7, then the latter and member 8 may be shifted inwardly in head 4 independently of members 6, 7 and head 4. If bar 53 is clear of member 6, the latter and members 'i and 8 may be moved inwardly independent of member 5 and head 4. If bar 53 is clear of member 5 the latter and members 5, i, 3 may be moved inwardly of head 4. When the several socket members 5, ii, i and 8 are not latched together head 4 may provide a wrench action due to the fact that the several socket members may be moved inwardly to provide the head i with a clearance to receive a nut or bolt head. The member 3 will perform its function with respect to a nut or bolt head when the members and head 4 are latched together. When member 8 is moved inwardly it provides a clearance for member I to receive nut or bolt head; when members "i and 3 are bodily moved inwardly a clearance is formed in member 6 to receive a nut or bolt head; and when members 6, l and 8 are bodily moved inwardly it provides a clearance for member 5 to receive a not or bolt end. The movement of the member 8 inwardly or two or more of said members in. unison inwardly is caused by the size of the nut or bolt head after the member 8 or two or more of said members is or are released from their normal latching position.

Formed integral with the sides is and E5 of the head in proximity to the closed end 9 of tr e latter is a shank or handle member 55 disposed at right angles to the head and of the desired length.

What I claim is:

A socket wrench including a hollow head open at one end and closed at its other, a set of socket members nested in encompassing relation, open at each end positioned within and movable automatically towards the closed end of said head selectively by and to accommodate various sized nuts, the inner members of said set having means at their inner ends completely spaced from the inner face of the head and bearing upon the inner ends of the outer members of the set to prevent said inner members dropping out of their nested positions from said head, said head and the outer member of said set having coacting means to prevent said outer member from dropping out of its nested position relative to said head, a controlling spring interposed between the inner member of said set and said closed end for normally maintaining said members in inner end abutting engagement, spring controlled means extending through opposed portions of said members and head for releasably latching the members together in nested position and to said head, the said coacting means on the outer member of said set being in the form of a pair of spaced leaf springs disposed lengthwise of and having their inner ends anchored to the outer face of said outer member, said springs having their outer portions curved towards and beyond the inner face of said head, the coacting means on said head in the form of spaced tapered recesses in the outer portion of the inner face of said head, the outer walls of said recesses forming shoulders normally engaged by the outer end edges of the outer portions of said springs,

and the said outer member of said set being of uniform thickness throughout and spaced throughout from the inner face of the head.

ANDREW PEARSON. 

